Venue support from Coastal Community Credit Union.

We begin this week’s newsletter with some sad news.  One of our #1 supporters and a fixture in the timing tent for years passed away in her sleep last Sunday after Coal Cross.  Lexi will be missed and our heart goes out to Patrick.

Short Notes for this week: 

• We have a photo link for you this week: Lindsey Fraser shared some of her photos from Sunday.
• If you have other photo galleries please send them our way and we will share with the COTR community!
• Racing Men’s Supermasters?  We have new 2024 stickers for the front of your helmet to help with timing when there are 100+ dudes on the course.  Come and get one from registration at the next race you are at (if you have already raced this year)

1. Race #3 Preview.  Twin City X.
REGISTRATION LINK.  CLOSING AT 6:00pm on SATURDAY (As always)

Location: Port Alberni Fair Grounds-3737 Roger St, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 8J4  Fair grounds located at the end of Vimy St                            –  2.5 hour drive from Victoria                           – 1 hour drive from Nanaimo                           – 1.5 hour drive from Duncan                          – 1 hour drive from Cumberland Parking: (SEE THE MAP) There is a HUGE parking area.  As you enter the grounds you will turn right, there is a giant gravel parking area. Look for the signs.  Do NOT park near your team tent. The gates to team tents will be closed after 10am!! Get here early to set up tents. Registration: If you need to pick up your race number,  make some change or switch your category it will be located right out front on the Kinsmen building as you enter the grounds.  Washrooms will also be around the same building. Team Tents: All team tents will go up against the horse corral. See the attached map. Head into the grounds. Drop your tent and go park!  No room for vehicles. The gates to team tents will be closed after 10am!! 
The pits will be located close to team tents Course:  Grass, sand, MUD, tractor pull, sawdust and a run up that will give Bowen a run for its money..  It is a flat course, but flowy and still has that true Port Alberni flavour. 
Did we mention there is a live DJ AND a Fire truck coming to soak our mud pit!?!?This is THE race of the season, you won’t want to miss it!!  Course Hazards:  While we have use of the grounds, there may be people unaware. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP. 
The course will have some special features… if you have not hit these features in practice, do not fly the SUPER HERO cape in the race! OPEN Category ONLY Section there is a extremely fast DH (biggest in COTR history)Please make sure you are entering this section slowly..  Stick to the LEFT side of the cones as you rip down the path.(This section will be open to park users so HEADS UP!!)It is followed by a MANDATORY run up!! If you get caught by the marshal trying to ride this section you will get DISQUALIFIED!!!!! It is a very steep hill and you could easily hurt yourself and/or others if you lost your balance trying to gain a second riding your bike. Food Truck:  Hojo’s Eats are coming to town. They offer something for everyone. Warm food, snacks, and drinks. Hojo’s Eats has you covered for that mid race day fix!  Beer gardens: For the first time since Beban 2017?  Twin City Brewing from Port Alberni will be serving up their delicious beer! Make sure to have a cold one while cheering on the race. Prizing:  Prizing will be provided by The Jumping Slug Bike Shop, Eleven Speed Coffee, Twin City Brewing, Godfather Garage, Cannondale, Hotel Zed, Barnside Brewing Co. and our title sponsor Muc Off!!

Huge draw prize for one lucky racer at the end of the day! (Must be there to win the prize)






2. Race #2 Review.  The vibe was Coal Crossing.
 Notes from Tom and Brett:

Thanks to everyone for coming up to Cumberland and being part of a great event. The atmosphere and racing was fabulous. A huge thank you to all the volunteers that made the race come together: Scott McGregor, Brett & Sinead Whitehead, Beth, Ben and Eli Pechter, Sophia & Andrew Sauter, Gavin MacPhail, Megan Racher, Jim Meldrum, Andrea Scott, Alex Smith, Cameron, Owen, Alex, Annabelle & Talia, Erica, Dan Lehton, Judith Writhg and her friend Angela, Tim Roberts was amazing, cutting, clearing and setting up the course once again, and a huge thanks to Sarah Hassall and Scott Manktelow for jumping in for first aid duties. Thanks to everyone who helped tear down the course as well.  It is always SO HELPFUL when people jump in and help out.  It goes FAST.  Awards are earlier.  Everyone is done quicker!

Many thanks to our local sponsors for this event:  Trail Bikes, Blue Toque Sports, Biblio Taco and Skratch for the category winners thanks to Drew.
 It was awesome to see so many great battles out there, and people getting out of their comfort zones to take the optional jump line. Rumor is that Norm even hit it from lap three on. 
Norm’s Notes: 

• There is a LOT going on at the races EVERY time.  I don’t get to see as much as I would like.  A few things stand out though…..
• Cumberland always has a great feel to it.  From all the spectators by the barriers.  The team zone.  Over by the pits and the one little dude cheering me on from his marshal spot at the start of Dog Leg each lap.  I thank that kid!!
• Great fun battling it out in the Masters Category again.  Such a great group of guys and I hope everyone feels that in the category they are racing with!
• Need more Launch women!!
• The Open Women category had more racers that was their first race of the season….that means we have had 16 women race OPEN so far this year…..we just need EVERYONE in EVERY category to SHOW UP on the same day!!  HUGE event!!
• Tycho took his day of race to the next level last weekend.  Racing the Launch.  Then being the rabbit for the Riverway Dental Hot Lap Race.  MEGA cheering for Mom and Dad during their two races.  THEN helping out with the awards.  HUGE day!!
• The two retro-tech guys on the 90’s MTBs in the OPEN category.  Proving you just have to RIDE and get out there.

It is about the community.  Racing.  Respect.  Repeat.
Remember to recommend COTR to people that ride and bring a friend out to race!!

Coming Up on Thanksgiving Monday:

Parting Shot.  David Prothero shuttling his Single Speed Humu Retro tech bike to the event on Sunday.  Perfect shuttle vehicle.

Venue support from Coastal Community Credit Union.

More Short Notes: 

• Graham Orr, Iris Loots, Cameron Meldrum, Lea Cicon, Ross Greenwood, Claire Townsend, Katja Verkerk, Charlee Alleyn.  8 out of 11 winners at the Victoria Cyclocross GP had one thing in common. They were ALL on the top step of the podium for the FIRST TIME at COTR!
• Get registered for Coal Cross!
• Katja Verkerk (2nd overall in Open women CotR 2023) won the 2024 Elite Women’s Canadian National Gravel Championships in AB. She is off to the Gravel World Championships in Belgium in 3 weeks.
• Izaiah Sheerin lost his GARMIN Edge 530 at Topaz Park during his race.  It did not show up in the lost and found but if you found it let us know and we will try to reunite it with Izaiah.
• The registration for Twin City X in Port Alberni should be approved and live in the next day.  The MUC OFF CUP will be close to follow.
• We are working on a multi-race-in one day discount like we used to be able to do when we were with Race Roster.  We will keep you posted.
• Racing Men’s Supermasters?  We have new 2024 stickers for the front of your helmet to help with timing when there are 100+ dudes on the course.  Come and get one from registration on Sunday or at the next race you are at (if you have already raced this year)

1. Race #2 Preview.  Coal Cross in Cumberland!

The furthest race north on Vancouver Island is legendary.  The first Comox Valley race at the Hostel and Puntledge was 75 min for 1st place and still stands at 6th place for most DNF’s % in a race!  That race was won by Troy Woodburn and 2nd place was a world cup MTB and Olympic racer Andreas Hestler.  Well Andreas will be back this weekend racing at Coal Cross for the first time since 2006 and only his 4th Cross on the Rock Race.  The difference this time will be it will be a family race day with his son making his COTR debut in the Launch category! 
Registration is OPEN until 6:00 Saturday night.  Then it is CLOSED.  So do NOT leave it until 5:59pm on Saturday as you will not get registered!

The Course: Some slight modifications to last year’s course are in the works, but expect a fast and mostly flat course for race #2 of the Muc Off – COTR season. Village Park is hosting us again with one of the best COTR courses, local sponsors: Biblio Taco, Blue Toque, Trail Bicycles, and Easton/Raceface will be supporting our event with great prizes along with our series sponsors.

This event supports the Trail Bicycles youth race team as well.  The weather forecast looks good, and we’re looking forward to seeing you all there. 

You only need to pick up a number if you have not raced in race #1 OR if you lost your race number (Bring $5 cash for a replacement)

As always if everyone can pitch it to tear down and pack up then we can be doing awards and on our way quicker.

Also note: Biblio Taco should OPEN this Sunday.

2. Race #1 Review. Victoria Cyclocross Grand Prix p/b Pro City and Tripleshot. WHAT AN EVENT!!

Notes from Race Director Scott Mitchell.

Another awesome day for Cyclocross in Victoria. It was great to see so many people out for the season opener and the weather was pretty perfect for racing.  I couldn’t believe how many kids came out and raced, I’m sure we will see many of them racing and standing atop podiums in the future. Can’t believe how fast the course came down, that was such a relief after a long day of directing and racing. Thanks to all that helped clean up!

There were several key volunteers that deserve a BIG THANK YOU!

Kevin from Tripleshot rallied a great crew of volunteers to make this event happen, but we also saw several last minute helpers jump in to make the event run smooth. 

Lister deserves a big thanks for finding a loophole in the City Construction plans and getting us a foot in the door to get a permit less than 3 weeks before the event.  (Norm’s note…..this is a much longer story than once sentence!)

The course crew, Cory, Kevin, Kyle, James, Michelle, Mark, Jasper, Amy, Hugh, Griffin, Rowan, Andy and here were more….sorry if I missed ya.

Also the critical number trackers in the registration and timing tents, Patrick, Coleen, Ross, Clay, Matt, Kimberly, Tendo, Robin, Christy, Brandy, Kevin, and Jasper,  not an easy job but a job well done.

Dave and Kimberly thanks for hosting the Beginner Clinic!

I’m sure there were several more that pitched in in all aspects of the day and I’m sorry if I missed you.

The City of Victoria Parks Department hasn’t complained…… fingers crossed….. so please respect the area and keep away with your cross bike.  Although this might be the last Topaz race, we say that often…..  We will certainly try and race at Topaz again if the park renovations allow for enough course.  

As always Norm is the super industrial glue that holds these events together.  Its amazing to see his family out following his lead and helping with the events throughout the day. They are always calm and collected, organized, and deserve so much credit for the success of this event and the entire series.  Thanks Thibault Family!

Big thanks to Trek Bikes Victoria for supplying swag including a sweet Trek Wahoo 24” Kids bike.  Support your local bike shop because they support these fun events!

Norm’s Notes: 

• Thanks to Kimbery and Dave for leading the pre-ride and again to Kimberly for leading the Riverway Dental Hot lap.
• Overhearing conversations at Topaz Park when we were riding around…..man people were EXCITED for cyclocross and to have the series going!
• Heading north with the COTR trailer we spotted bikes with their new timing chips all over the place from Mayfair mall to Chemanus.
• So great to see SO MANY first time winners at this race!!  The more different winners the better (in my opinion)
• How did Evan not melt in that long sleeve skin suit?

It is about the community.  Racing.  Respect.  Repeat.
Remember to recommend COTR to people that ride and bring a friend out to race!!

Coming Up SOON:

MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2023.
Newsletter #9 – No Laps to go!

The Series Final Edition.

Thank you for racing local and supporting Cross on the Rocks.
It is all of you that make this a unique and awesome race series!!

Last of the season notes:

• LOTS of activity on our socials as always.  Racer interviews.  Reels.  Photos….keep an eye on those through the 9 months of the year when there are no newsletters.  They will keep you up to date!
• While this is the last newsletter for the season we will try to put together a tiny survey for the series and send out next week.  We KNOW that for some reason EVERYTHING has a survey now (today we got asked to fill out a survey on how good BC Hydro is/is not….like we have a choice?) but we HOPE to get a good number of responses to share with sponsors and shape the direction of the series.  Keep an eye out for that please!
• Lost and found.  We have reunited a few people with their lost gear this week.  Pumps.  Shoes.  Shorts….all making their way to their owners.  We will have the bin one last time at the National Championships in the morning and then for the men’s elite races if you want to pick up or check the box over.  Last chance then it goes to good will, recycling or the landfill.
• We will bring some of the series awards that were not picked up at the awards to next weekend’s national champs.  If you did not get your award…..please check with us and we will try to get it to you!

1. Special thanks to our sponsors.

Our MAIN PRIZING SPONSOR with the Muc Off Cup, Prizing for all of the races and the final AND support at three events this season including organizing a water tanker for the final was Peter Creighton from HLC Bike.  Peter has supported our events since 2004.  We would not be the series we are without his support.  When you see him at events or at the bike shop ALWAYS thank him as he has earned it.

The Muc Off Tent always looks PRO

Hotel ZED and Accent Ann for great draw prizes and our MEGA grand prize.  A Great community partner that supports our series!

Super Masters Men’s Category Sponsors Jack Mar from Island Cycles on Quadra.  We hope to see Jack racing again one day but in the meantime he comes to the races to visit, watch, deliver prizes and socialize.  Jack is retiring from his bike shop so if anyone from the supermasters group wants to take on the opportunity of impressing this group with super prizes at our events please let us know.

Frontrunners who let me race and organize these events.  Cyclocross racers need to run so come see us for some runners, gym shoes, blunstones, Glerups or HOKA for people that need that extra cushion (cyclists).

Goodr Sunglasses.  We just got this GREAT sponsor this year through their Canadian Distributor only to find out that the distributor in changing for 2024…..darn it!

Wade Luksay from Riverway Dental sponsoring the kids Hot Lap prizing for the season again!  (And Wendy Simms for always keeping an eye out for what would be good prizing and within our budget every time she heads out for errands).

Kyle Denny from 11 Speed Coffee covering the Last Not Lapped (AKA most in need of coffee) and some series draw prizes.

Event Bike shop sponsors, Big Grin Bikes, Broad Street Cycles, Rock City Cycles, Cycle Therapy, Coal City Cycles and Trail Bikes.

Our race directors this year: Roy Kregoski, Brett and Tom, Corey and Sean, Roland, Matt and Mark, Patrick, Leslie and Shep.

Clubs: Arrowsmith Bike Club, Trail Bikes Club, Rock City Cycles Team, Broad Street Cycles, Cycle Therapy and MIVA

Awards: Roland Rabien, Paul Brend and Victoria Waterjet.

Stats, Results and Timing team: Patrick and Roland (again)

Web site: Brett and Roland (again).

The series is what it is because of these businesses and individuals.  We sincerely thank them!

2. CoweX Series Final Review

Patrick’s Photo Link from CoweX

Norm’s Notes:  Throughout the 17 season history there are certain races that are talked about over and over.  Previous to this year most recently it was the 2021 Atmospheric River during the master men’s race at the Muc Off Cup.  Previous to that there was the last race at Shawnigan Lake School with the downhill “WALL”.  In 2014 we had the Kona Kup which was held at Beban Park (We posted photos of this in the last newsletter).  14.5% of the field DNF’ed.  There was one race that trumped them all though.  In 2009 we held a race at Slugget Farms in Central Saanich called “Children of the Corn”.  It literally went through a corn field and the expert race was held in a downpour.  Pro City Cycles built an up and over/and under.  The under turned into a beer garden during the race.  It was a double header with the Bob Cameron Cross at Laryritz Park.  For anyone that raced that on that day….maybe lost a shoe that is still there in the field….they will remember it.  CoweX will take on that sort of memory.  We are SO LUCKY to have been able to race a rare heavy course like we saw last Sunday.  Most land owners would not like us so much but the Cowichan Ex. were OK with it!!  A huge opportunity to practice skills that we don’t normally get to do and a reminder that Cyclocoss is a sport that involves riding a bike AND running!!

Race notes from the race director Matt from Cycle Therapy:

Well that was fun!

Thanks everyone for joining us at the Cowichan Exhibition.  This COTR season was missing some mud so we decided to make up for it all at once!

Special thanks to our committed organizing team of Mark Law, Doug Merrick and Pete Stevenson.  Without your help and vision this even would have simply not happened.

Thanks to our course setup team of Mark, Doug, Pete, Trevor, Darren, Robin, Evan, Tim and my lovely wife Heather for standing out in the rain for hours setting up the course (I swear the weather report said it would be sunny).

Thanks to Heather and Sarah for running the registration once again.

Thanks to Emmett and Jemima for helping Patrick with manual timing (I will get more volunteers next year Patrick!).

Thanks to Peter Creighton from HLC Bike for coming out and putting that pressure washer to good use.

Thanks to Taco Revolution and Phat Bastard Eats for keeping us all fed.  Special thanks to Dan from Coffee on the Moon for coming out last minute and delivering free coffee!

Thanks to Cycle Therapy Bicycles and Mike from Trek for all the great draw prizes.

Thanks to the Cowichan Exhibition for allowing us to tear up your fields.

And last but not least thanks to Norm and the rest of the COTR team for trusting us to put on the series finale!  We hope everyone had fun!

Matt Grossnickle
Cycle Therapy

3. Series Winners
Each of our races have 10 categories BUT at each event there always the race within the races.  The series has 20 categories for overall victory.

There are the winners for the season in each category and their points.  Some of the categories were VERY CLOSE!!

Big congratulations to all the podium finishers for the season and a special shout out to Charlotte Tai who just started racing this season (had never raced anything before) and came out to all the Airhouse-Rock City Cycles practices to finish 2nd for Launch women!

Category

Broad Street Breakaway.  2023 Team of the year.

4. The SUPER GRAND PRIZE Winner.

Somewhere in our notes that are still in the registration box we have the NAME of the grand prize winner!!  I am sure at some point they will contact us.  In the meantime…..here is their photo.  I am sure someone knows who this lucky COTR racer is!!

Hotel Zed has been a huge supporter of our series over the years.  From their amazing cycling jerseys for their women’s club to providing room nights for draw prizes.  This year they have taken it up a BIG notch providing an AMAZING vacation in Tofino.  NOT at their super cool Hotel Zed but at their exclusive water front Hotel Zed Tofino Cottage located next to Hotel Zed.  4 Nights!

CHECK OUT THE AMAZING LISTING HERE

If you are traveling to any town/city where there is a Hotel Zed or Accent Inn and you need a place to stay.  Stay there!!

The CoweX Series Final Preview Edition.

We have come to the last race of the Muc Off Cross on the Rock race season.  We hope to see as many of you out there as humanly possible on Sunday.  It looks and smells like it will be muddy!!!  We have not had “real mud” this year so this is going to be a great opportunity to practice your mud skills and have a great time racing!!  After the racing we will do as quick a clean up as possible so that we can roll into the race and series awards as fast as possible.  Bring wash up stuff and warm clothes!  Thank you for racing local and supporting Cross on the Rocks.  It is all of you that make this a unique and awesome race series!!

Some super important information:
BEFORE THIS WEEKEND:

• When you register make sure your TEAM NAME is correct!  Check your past results.  Has someone edited it for you?  Check the TEAM STANDINGS.  Make sure your name is the same that is posted on the TEAM STANDINGS!!  If your team name or anything is not correct EDIT it before Sunday!
• This is what the series standings are currently with your lowest race dropped.  Have a look.  Take a look at those in front of you.  Take a look at those behind you.  Those are the battles for Sunday!!  Ties in points go to whomever was ahead in the last race. There are some TIGHT battles for the series!
• For the series we are doing:  Top Boy and Top Girl for the Hot Lappers.  Top 3 in each of the other categories INCLUDING MEGA MASTERS which is the new 70+ Men’s category for the series.  If you are in the top 3 please plan on attending the awards as we will not hunt you down to give you a sweet trophy by Paul Brend and some great Muc Off products.
• Registration is OPEN for CoweX and you can link it here. AS ALWAYS it will be CLOSED at 6:00 on Saturday.  Don’t say “oh I did not know that”!!

PAN AM Cyclocross Championships!!  Super awesome to see our COTR racers take on a higher level UCI event!!
Natalie Wright taking home a silver medal in the Masters women’s category!
ELITE JUNIOR WOMEN’S Sidney Swierenga (13th), Eleanor Winchell (15th), Geza Rodgers (16th), Kimberly Chen (17th)
ELITE JUNIOR MEN’S Oscar Wong (25th),
U23 MEN Cody Scott (9th), Soren Weselake (19th)
ELITE MEN  Evan Russell (6th), Fabian Merino (17th)

1. CoweX Series Final Preview!!

Awards for the race and then the series will follow clean up which will follow the OPEN races!  Please help us clean up as quickly as possible so we can get the awards rolling!

Location: Cowichan Exhibition Park – 7380 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan, BC V9L 6B1
-55 minute drive from Victoria
-33 minute drive from Nanaimo
-Right off the highway North of Duncan

Parking: (SEE THE MAP) There is a HUGE parking area.  Look for the signs on the right immediately as you enter the exhibition.  We have overflow parking if needed but doubtful it will be. Do NOT park where you should NOT park!  Please do not drive up into the race venue to park as space up there will be tight.

Registration: If you need to register or switch your category it will be located at the Stratford Room.  Washrooms will also be around the same building, try not to wear your muddy CX shoes.  We are expecting A LOT of mud this weekend (finally) and the cleaner we leave the washrooms the better.  There is also a second washroom located near the Exhibition Office that will be open.

Team Tents: See the attached map.  The pits will be located close by the team tents as well.

Course:  Think grass, hills, MUD, tractor pull, sawdust and some climbing (not quite Bowen).  It will be a bit more of a traditional European style course with plenty of COTR flair thrown in for good measure.  We are bringing back a SWEEEEET feature from COTR races of the past.  You will have to be there to see it.  The run up will also remain from 2022!

Taco’s:  The Taco Revolution Food Truck and Phat Bastard Eats Burger Truck will be on site for all your post and pre-race taco needs. TACOS and BURGERS!!!

Warming Up:  We are not the only group using the park that day so please refrain from riding around the taped off main grounds as we don’t want Cyclist’s riding around where cars are present.

Bike Wash:  We will have a Muc Off pressure washer for racers to use and clean up afterwards.

Prizing: Prizing and awards will be provided by Cycle Therapy Bikes in Duncan, Eleven Speed Coffee, Goodr, Hotel Zed and Muc Off!!  Plus Riverway Dental for the Hot Lappers!

STUDY THIS MAP LIKE YOUR RACE DEPENDED UPON IT!!

2. (Reprint in case you missed it) The SUPER GRAND PRIZE for 2023!!

YOU MUST BE THERE TO WIN!!

There were a few mentions of the GRAND PRIZE reveal for the season at the last event.  The way the grand prize always works is:

1. Every time you race your name gets entered for the prize.  If you race once you are entered once.  If you do the full series you are entered 6 times.
2. You have to be there at the final awards at the END to win the prize.  That is when we draw for it.
3. Sorry but the LITTLE kids are not eligible for this prize.  So not the Riverway Dental Hot Lappers or the little nutcase racers.  You have to have raced an “adult” category.

Hotel Zed has been a huge supporter of our series over the years.  From their amazing cycling jerseys for their women’s club to providing room nights for draw prizes.  This year they have taken it up a BIG notch providing an AMAZING vacation in Tofino.  NOT at their super cool Hotel Zed but at their exclusive water front Hotel Zed Tofino Cottage located next to Hotel Zed.  4 Nights!

CHECK OUT THE AMAZING LISTING HERE

This prize is worth $4000-$8000 depending on time of the year.  No black out dates BUT you have to book it separately which we will give you the contact information.

SEASON #17 COTR Schedule